Those of us who have gone through a job hunt that’s lasted more than a couple of weeks understand the stress and energy that interviewing can involve. You walk away from each interview feeling emotionally and mentally drained. It takes its toll.
You might feel tired, deflated at delays in feedback/declines, worried with the pressure to secure something for financial reasons and disappointed when the roles you really wanted didn’t necessarily come together.
I’m not a mindfulness expert, but I know how the pressure we put on ourselves during job searches can lead to feelings of depression, worry, anxiety and deep stress from my own experiences. So what could you do to keep mindfully ‘well’ during the job hunt?
1. Do what you are ABLE to do, not what you think you HAVE to
Especially if you are under financial pressure to gain a new role, you may feel you have to apply to as many jobs as possible, attend every interview at as short notice as possible because you can’t afford to miss them etc. The truth of the matter is that putting this pressure on ourselves is adding to the weight of the situation. So applying to roles when you can, only tailoring your CV when necessary and requesting interviews to be pushed out if you genuinely are under pressure to make it can help ease pressure. Ultimately pushing yourself too hard will only result in a bad interview and the emotional consequences that can bring.
2. Get some interview preparation/coaching
In working with a good recruiter/interview coach to gain some tips, you are taking onboard advice from those in the know and this can help to make you more comfortable in the interview room instead of simply walking in ‘cold’. Recruiters are often really excited to sit down with a good candidate and work with them on interview technique, providing constructive feedback. This advice can be invaluable and you should feel, when walking away, that you’ve gained something from the time with the recruiter. Preparation will boost your confidence, potentially allowing you to secure a role more quickly.
3. Get a good night’s sleep before your interview or job hunt.
It’s really vital to be rested for the next day. Staying up late going through questions or researching a company is the same as cramming for an exam. But arriving into an interview on little sleep will mean your concentration levels are not what they could be, leading to increased anxiety as you struggle to focus but will also show in your demeanour and how you conduct the interview. Staying up late draped over the laptop searching for jobs might find you a role to apply for, but in the long term it potentially will make you more irritable and less able to submit a strong application as you will be applying with little energy and clarity. So starts the vicious cycle of not being called to interview, feeling depressed, staying up searching for roles and round and round it goes.
4. Listen up: A No for a job is not a No to you as a person.
The word ‘rejected’ carries such strong emotional connotations. It’s so easy to fall into the trap after not getting past interviews to start believing the problem is you. We take rejection at interview so personally, when I can practically guarantee you that next to no interviewers are looking at this personally. The main point: It’s not you as a person. For roles that you haven’t been offered you must see it as ‘not the right fit’ even if you felt it was. Ultimately if after multiple interviews nothing is progressing to offer, then seek advice from your recruiter or career advisor. It could be as simple as your technique in interview or nerves and there are ways to overcome this. Try to keep in mind that while you are an interview candidate, more importantly you are a person, mother, father, husband, wife, sister, brother, friend, Individual. You are more than a set of interviews.
5. Talk about your job hunt
Looking for a new role is just a circumstance; not an ideal one perhaps but it shouldn’t define you. So why not share the journey with family or good friends? There is no shame in looking for a job, we will all go through it most likely at some point in our careers. Talk about what jobs you are looking at, talk about the frustrations of not getting through; allow people to support you through it. Laugh. Play with your pets or children, keep a good diet and always maintain your hope, using tools such as interview advice and smart job applications to allow your job search journey to be as stress free as possible. Also, some jobs are not always put online or widely advertised, so you never know what you might here of job wise from friends or family.
6. Take something positive from interviews
Try to take something positive from each interview. Use the time as a learning period until the right role comes along. I am a firm believer in ‘What’s for you won’t pass you by’ and when you interview for a role that’s right for you, with a company that will value you, things just seem to align. Don’t lose hope – jobs may come and go but your mental and emotional well being is worth more than any position
Support Our Campaign
We rely on the generosity of the public to fund our work and so far together we have achieved great things! Please do continue to support us so we can provide future generations in Ireland with the resources to recognise and talk about their emotions, and equip them to navigate the ever-changing world around them as they grow
